I don’t do a lot of articles on video games - I usually leave that to Sub-Zero - so when I do actually write such an article, it’s because the game has fascinated me in one way or another.  Released in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode is one of those games.  The game was way ahead of its time, incorporating adult themes and different genres of gameplay into a polished, intriguing, and challenging game.  Keep reading to see why I loved Golgo 13 so much, besides the fact that Duke had awesome sideburns and kicked people so hard that they exploded.

The Game Turned Into a First-Person Shooter for Certain Stages

Much of the action in Golgo 13 is standard side-scrolling fighting, and Duke could use a gun or jumpkicks to kill his enemies.  At times, though, Duke would be ambushed, and the game would instantly become a first-person shooter.  Before Halo, and even before Goldeneye for the N64, Golgo 13 forced you to put your adversaries in crosshairs and blow their brains out.  Golgo 13 may not be the only or even the first FPS for the NES (The Adventures of Bayou Billy comes to mind), but it’s certainly memorable and added another dimension to an already pretty damn good game.  The fun starts at about 1:34 in the above clip.

The Introduction of First-Person Mazes

Many of the levels in Golgo 13 were intricate mazes filled with enemies and traps.  Maybe the mazes aren’t so confusing anymore, but to a pre-pubescent kid with a variety of social disorders, they were a total nightmare.  The mazes were a new staple to Nintendo games, and successfully navigating your way through one was definitely braggable.

Sex!

 

Duke comes across several attractive females throughout the game, some assigned to assist him with his mission.  In a time where sex was unheard of in video games, a female operative and Duke get it on in a hotel.  Best of all, Duke’s health is completely restored after their little session.  Which always struck me as odd; after sex, I’m either too exhausted or too ashamed to perform even the most menial tasks.  Alright, fine.  Ashamed.

The Sniper Part

The “sniper part” is one of my favorite moments in video game history.  After completing a level toward the beginning of the game in which you fly a helicoptor and battle airborne enemies, you are then given the task of sniping a sniper.  It’s the best.  Searching with the rifle’s scope, you’ll eventually find the oblivious sniper, and all it takes is one press of a button to put a bullet in his skull and bask in the glory that is pixelated blood spurting from his head.  Just like sex was unheard of in video games back in 1988, so was blood.  I remember going absolutely apesh*t over this part when I was a kid, often launching obscenities toward the sniper for a half hour before finally executing him.  Pretty normal kid stuff.  Check out 3:30-4:02 in the above clip for the sniper part.  I recommend watching with the sound off. 

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